Botox to rejuvenate your skin

In continuing our series on procedures to rejuvenate the skin, today we will look at the use of Botox for that purpose. Botox is a purified protein derived from clostridium botulinum.

When we use our facial muscles repeatedly throughout life, the skin becomes wrinkled in the areas of greatest use. Decreasing the movement of these muscles helps prevent the skin from creasing and causes the lines and wrinkles to soften or even fade away. When Botox is injected in small amounts into the muscle, it weakens it by stopping chemical messages from the nerve to the muscle. Only a few muscles are targeted and so normal facial expressions can be maintained.

This product is quite safe in professionally trained hands. It is Food and Drug Administration-approved to treat frown lines between the eyebrows, excessive underarm sweating and certain neurological conditions. It is a popular treatment for wrinkles in your forehead, around the outer corners of your eyes or between your eyebrows to treat that constant angry or stern look. This treatment may be considered expensive so you have to decide if it is affordable and if the satisfaction it brings is worth it for you.

It should not be done in the following situations:

Active infection at site

Known sensitivity to Botox

Pregnancy or breastfeeding

Diseases involving generalised muscle weakness, for example, myasthenia gravis

Current use of aminoglycoside antibiotics, for example, gentamycin

Bleeding disorders or anticoagulant therapy, for example, warfarin

The aim of this treatment is not to produce a mask-like face. Once it is used properly in small amounts, the result is a more youthful, refreshed appearance with softening of facial creases. For the treatment of lines and wrinkles, your doctor will ask you to make certain facial expressions to see how your muscles work. An extremely fine, short needle is used to inject the product into the appropriate muscle.

There is no significant down time with this treatment. There may be redness and swelling in the area injected which usually resolves within a few hours. Rarely, after treating facial muscles, there may be a temporary drooping of the eyelid or eyebrow, which may last a few weeks but always resolves. Special eye drops can be prescribed to help lift the lid back to its normal position if this occurs. Headaches and allergies to the product are rare.

Benefits of the treatment of the face are usually seen after four to 14 days, but vary with the individual. The effects normally last between three and six months, after which you will be gradually able to move the muscles more freely. It is best if your next treatment is at the first sign of muscle reactivation. With repeated treatments, the time between each treatment usually lengthens until a yearly maintenance may be all that is needed.

Dr Arusha Campbell-Chambers is a dermatologist and founder of Dermatology Solutions Skin Clinics & Medi-Spas; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.